Pacific honors Japanese culture

A 2005 trip to Japan by two University of the Pacific music professors spawned the idea of a campus festival showcasing various elements of Japanese art, music, film and culture.

Rick Brewer

A 2005 trip to Japan by two University of the Pacific music professors spawned the idea of a campus festival showcasing various elements of Japanese art, music, film and culture.

The idea's time has come.

Beginning with a Tuesday presentation called "Understanding Japanese Culture" in the Conservatory of Music's Recital Hall, Pacific is offering students and the public the opportunity to hear traditional shakuhachi music, discuss the films of Akira Kurosawa and take part in a tea ceremony.

"When we lectured and researched in 2005, the Japanese people treated us like kings," music professor Francois Rose said. "We knew we had to bring Japan on campus. We met with colleagues from other departments, and everyone was interested in a multi-faceted festival."

Highlighting the festival are two concerts from renowned Japanese artists. The first takes place Wednesday at Faye Spanos Concert Hall, when Yoshio Kurahashi, Yoko Itatani Hirano and Ayako Kurahashi, respectively, play the shakuhachi, koto and sangen traditional instruments. Friday night in the concert hall, Joji Yuasa and Kiyoshi Furukawa will perform new music backed by several Pacific music professors.

"The sounds of Japanese instruments are evocative," professor Robert Coburn said. "The music is different than Westerners are accustomed to but still melodic and vocal. I hope people will get a sense of what they're really like. They'll hear and see things a little differently, which is a good thing."

Thursday's events focus on the Academy Award-winning director, with his 1957 film "Throne of Blood," being shown at 8 p.m. in the Pacific Theatre. "Throne of Blood" is based on Shakespeare's "MacBeth," transporting the characters from Scotland to Japan.

Other festival events have included a Japanese Manga/Anime art contest and an art exhibition, which continues through the end of the month at the Reynolds Gallery.